CAUSES

Presented with the 2017 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination.

My father has Parkinson’s.

The journey my father has taken with Parkinson’s is one of strength, courage, and faith. As we discovered my father’s Parkinson’s, we discovered his slowing motions included small tremors. He got around more slowly and required assistance with even the smallest tasks.

Nevertheless, my father has never complained about Parkinson’s. His mentality is one that refuses to be conquered, one that is persistent.

As his daughter, it saddens me to see my father changing, but I do not allow him to see the hurt. I encourage him, I push him to his limits, and I do not treat him any differently since his diagnosis.

My father is a man of faith, and the way he has handled Parkinson’s has been inspirational. He has taught me to never let a disease or a label represent who you are or what you’ve been taught. I love him for that. Parkinson’s has brought us all together as a family.

We are more educated on the causes and effects, the different types of Parkinson’s, and the different treatments available. My brothers and sisters and I are “aware,” which helps ease any form of hesitation or fear.

We really believe that Parkinson’s has met its match. Our father is a fighter. Our father has Parkinson’s, but the disease does not consume him. We love you, Dad.

I love supporting our troops. In February of 2017, I was blessed with an opportunity to go visit some of our troops in Afghanistan.

It was an amazing experience and I had a lot of fun. I was able to meet some very brave, courageous, and cool soldiers by volunteering with the USO.

It really opened my eyes to how much these upstanding men and women sacrifice.

I love the WNBA Cares and enjoy spending time with children. Whether I’m reading my book to kids at their school, visiting children in a hospital, or having fun with them, it brings me a lot of joy and happiness to put a smile on their face.

Monumental Sports Foundation does so much to support the community in Washington, D.C.

I enjoy volunteering with my family at the Monumental Sports Foundation because of the love everyone always gives us back.